Harrison is of English origin, derived from the Old French 'Harri,' meaning 'Henry.' It is composed of two elements: 'hari,' which means 'army,' and 'sunna,' signifying 'army' or 'battle.' Thus, Harrison can be interpreted as 'son of Harry' or 'strength in battle.' The name gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages, likely due to its association with the royal house of Normandy. It has since become a well-established given name in English-speaking countries.
The name Harrison has seen fluctuations in popularity over the past century, with a noticeable peak in recent years. From 1923 to 1984, there were consistently low numbers of births with the name Harrison, ranging from 5 to 6 births per year. However, starting from 1987, there was a significant increase, with birth counts varying between 8 and 15 each year until 2023. The most recent decade (2012-2023) has seen the highest number of babies named Harrison, totaling 164 births, nearly half of all recorded births for this name since 1923.